Faith off: sparks fly in Doveton mosque row

A local council has overwhelmingly rejected a call for a discussion on the "dangers" of Islam in an ongoing row over a planning application for a mosque in the south-eastern suburb of Doveton.

At a City of Casey council meeting on Tuesday night, mayor Amanda Stapledon said a discussion on the "dangers" of Islam – proposed by deputy mayor Sam Aziz – would create a very poor perception in a multicultural community.

Tensions between the mayor and her deputy were clear during a fiery debate in front of a large public gallery.

Cr Aziz's original notice of motion proposed to invite Pastor Danny Nalliah, known for his strong views against Islam, to address the council "on the dangers of indoctrinated religious intolerance to the values, freedoms and stability of liberal and democratic societies".

On Tuesday night, he changed the invitee to Dr Mark Durie, an Anglican minister and author of The Third Choice: Islam, Dhim-mitude and Freedom, and proposed that the council also invite a representative of the Islamic community to speak at a separate meeting.

Nine out of 10 councillors voted against the motion.

Earlier, Cr Aziz said his notice of motion was not about restricting the religious freedom of others but about protecting freedom of speech and having an open debate on matters that were clearly of concern to "the silent majority in our community".

As reported by Fairfax on November 27, Anti-Islam Pastor Nalliah says his church, Catch the Fire Ministries, will soon build a $2 million church on an industrial lot in Green Street, Doveton. But he vowed to oppose moves to build a mosque next door, promoted by former Afghanistan government minister Khaliq Fazal.

"Frankly," Pastor Nalliah said, "I don't think we can live side by with a mosque next to us based on what's happening in Europe."

More than 100 people have signed an anti-mosque petition. But Deepa Jacob, 26, who lives two doors down, said her objections were practical not ideological. "Traffic and noise," she said, "nothing else."

Mr Fazal assured locals that that they would not be disturbed by the call to prayer.

"We don't have loudspeakers and we don't want to have loudspeakers," he said. "And would the church have a bell?"